The FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards Program is a national recognition program that highlights innovative local practices and achievements by individuals, programs, and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to prepare their communities for emergencies.

This award program generates hundreds of applications annually and only one award winner is selected for each of the competitive categories. The City of Irvine CERT program is proud to be recognized as the winner in the category of Excellence in Volunteer Sustainability. The award in this category is presented to a volunteer program supporting emergency preparedness and response that has successfully implemented innovative and creative solutions for keeping volunteers engaged year-round and executes successful strategies for securing resources for long-term sustainability.

Irvine CERT is run by the Irvine Police Department (IPD) in collaboration with the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) and aims to build a safer, stronger, better prepared, and more resilient community. Irvine CERT is a community-based volunteer effort that provides private citizens with the basic skills they will need to protect themselves, their family, and neighbors, and to respond to the immediate needs of the community in the aftermath of a disaster when emergency services may not be readily available. The program provides a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations, where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference.

The CERT program provides volunteers with training in emergency preparedness, fire safety, search and rescue, and other critical emergency responses. Irvine CERT volunteers regularly participate in disaster drills, monthly trainings, and assist IPD with translation services in over 30 languages. This summer, Irvine CERT celebrated the 50th CERT class, with more than 1,400 citizens now trained by IPD and OCFA.

“We are honored to receive this esteemed national award, which recognizes an important partnership in our community. I’m grateful to the hundreds of volunteers who have trained side by side with us in order to help support their families, neighbors, and friends in an emergency or crisis situation,” said Irvine Police Chief David L. Maggard, Jr.

The FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Award recipients will be recognized on Sept. 8, 2015 in Washington, D.C.

Since its incorporation in 1971, Irvine has become a nationally recognized city, with a population of 250,384, spans 66 square miles and is recognized as one of America’s safest and most successful master-planned urban communities. Top-rated educational institutions, an enterprising business atmosphere, sound environmental stewardship, and respect for diversity all contribute to Irvine’s enviable quality of life. This family-friendly city features more than 16,000 acres of parks, sports fields and dedicated open space and is the home of the Orange County Great Park – the first great metropolitan park of the 21st century. For more information, please visit cityofirvine.org.